Tonight:
5°c
Scrapped: 'secret' dog wardens who targeted owners
Ellen Widdup and Peter Dominiczak2 Apr 2009
A plainclothes squad set up to "pounce" on irresponsible dog owners has been scrapped after residents accused them of being like "secret police".
The six wardens were appointed to tackle dog fouling in Islington. They initially wore high-visibility uniforms before being allowed to go "undercover". But after complaints from local people, the council has backed down and reinstated the uniforms.
Cinzia Daniels, 46, a former fitness manager, was stopped by two plainclothes wardens, a man and a woman, when she was walking her dog in St Luke's Gardens near Old Street.
She was ordered to pay £160 for failing to clean up after her dog and for stubbing a cigarette out and not putting it in a bin. "The pair did show me council identification. But as they were in plainclothes I thought they could have been anyone," she said.
Dog walker George Topping, a clinical hypnotherapist who is disabled and has an old rescue dog, claimed the wardens were sneaking up on unsuspecting dog walkers rather than acting as a visible deterrent. "They have been extremely aggressive and intimidating to dog walkers. They even stalked one young boy out with his pet and followed him home," he said.
"The boy was walking his dog in St Luke's Gardens when the animal had an accident. The boy was followed home and his mother given an on-the-spot fine. The boy was in tears."
Mr Topping, 54, said he supported action against dog owners who let animals foul in parks and streets, but it had to be done properly: "We're not against wardens doing their job but they should declare themselves. They shouldn't be hounding innocent pet owners in plainclothes."
At a public meeting to discuss the wardens' "heavy handed" tactics, council officials agreed to reinstate the uniforms but insisted they would continue with the patrols. The wardens have the power to issue £80 on-the-spot fines to anyone who fails to clean up after their pet. They are trained to deal with dangerous dogs and anti-social behaviour and to "educate" owners and issue verbal warnings for animals not on leads.
The project, which costs £7,500 a month, is funded by the EC1 New Deal for Communities partnership, which aims to improve deprived areas.
Ruth Polling, Islington's executive member for leisure, said: "In response to public demand, we stepped up action against the small number who refuse to clear up after their dogs.
"We carried out plainclothed patrols for a two-week trial, which has now ended. Our officers weren't trying to snoop or entrap people, but we understand the concerns of responsible dog owners and residents."
Reader views (11)
Most of the fines have been returned and Cinzia was fined although they could not find any dog mess which means there was not evidence - thus that part of the fine was returned and she only had to pay for the cigarette butt and even that was reduced. This was not mentioned in the newspapers and that is why local residents are appalled. Indeed, many other residents with dogs were followed and as the council officers were not in uniform, were intimidated although they had not allowed their dogs to foul. We do support Islington Council's initiative but I suggest they go after the lads with Staffs as we middle-aged dog owners get the blame for what their dogs leave behind. However, some youngsters have asked me for a bag before now so it isn't just the young.
Cheers
George Topping
- George Topping, London UK, 03/04/2009 16:10
Report abuse
Martin - Teddington "Other dog owners should be policing this minority themselves, to save us paying for councils to do it" - are you seriously suggesting that some little old lady out walking her Yorkie should stop a hulking great thug and tell him to clean up after his Staffies?
- Phil, London
Phil, he'd probably listen to her more than to me!
- Martin, Teddington, 02/04/2009 22:34
Report abuse
Unfortunately they probably need them to go 'under cover' as my experience (here and in the UK) is that quite a few dog owners don't clean up their mess (left for unsuspecting pedestrians to walk in) - I am not backward in saying something but there are people I wouldn't say it to for fear of getting hit. It was right that Cinzea Daniels should be fined for dropping a cigarette butt and failing to clean up her dog mess. She wouldn't have done it if they had been in their 'uniform' but then it wouldn't sort the problem out would it? She would still be leaving her dog mess & cigarette butts knowing that probably passer bys would not say anything.
Good for the council and I say leave them 'under cover'.
- Barbara, Sydney, Australia, 02/04/2009 21:29
Report abuse
Ooops, lol £7,500 would be about right, but how much are they collecting in fines ?
- Tim, London,UK, 02/04/2009 18:22
Report abuse
also, why does it cost £7,500 a month to employ 6 jumped-up pen-pushers.
- Tim, London, UK, 02/04/2009 18:02
Report abuse
Martin - Teddington "Other dog owners should be policing this minority themselves, to save us paying for councils to do it" - are you seriously suggesting that some little old lady out walking her Yorkie should stop a hulking great thug and tell him to clean up after his Staffies?
- Phil, London, 02/04/2009 16:58
Report abuse
Anything to counter the irresponsibilty of a minority of dog-owners is acceptable. Car parks in, and entrances to parks are a foul mess. Other dog owners should be policing this minority themselves, to save us paying for councils to do it. We all see you, the owners who look the other way as soon as Fido is let off the lead.
- Martin, Teddington, 02/04/2009 14:14
Report abuse
Whilst I hate the fact that some owners do allow their dogs to foul in public places, this was clearly just a revenue raising exercise by Islington.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England, 02/04/2009 13:57
Report abuse
I'm all for anything that makes dog owners clean up the mess they leave on our streets - they are hardly "innocent pet owners".
- Austen, London, 02/04/2009 13:23
Report abuse
It is wholly illegal for any Council to issue on-the-spot fines to anyone for any reason.
Just refer to the Bill of Rights 1688 and tell the Gestapo Councils to get lost.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 02/04/2009 11:26
Report abuse
Why should a child be exempt from cleaning up dog mess - either the child is old enough and sensible enough to take the dog for a walk and clear up any mess or it isn't - when an adult should accompany. It is only right that there was a fine.
The streets of Islington are a disgrace and, at night, it is safer to take your chances with the cars by walking on the road than walking on the pavements which seem to have an ever growing amount of dog mess - sadly I have seen no evidence of the wardens (were they targeting the parks?) - it would seem all they need is some 'dealing with the public' training.
- Andy, London, 02/04/2009 10:27
Report abuse
